'Ivy League represents one of the most popular and expensive education systems today, but its suicide rate is shocking'

Dubai, November 23, 2016

Revolutionary new research by a Dubai university professor suggests that nurturing individual talents and promoting success based upon good citizenship rather than good grades can help to bring us closer to a well-balanced society.

The research report entitled ‘The Benefits of an Education of the Heart in a Competitive World’, has been written by Dr. Franziska Apprich, Assistant Professor at Canadian University Dubai (CUD), concluded that the education of the heart can have a transformation role in creating a tolerant, healthy society.

The paper has been selected for presentation at the 2017 Innovation Arabia Annual Congress, which will be hosted in Dubai next March, bringing together education stakeholders, researchers and practitioners to debate the latest innovations and trends in the field of teaching and learning.

Drawing upon research that demonstrates the negative impact of competition rather than collaboration in education, Dr. Apprich reveals, “Ivy League education represents one of the most popular and expensive education systems of our time and has a proven track record of success stories. Nevertheless, its suicide rate is shocking. Excessive expectations and pressure can poison the development of any student.’

“While academic critics reinforce the sense of competitiveness in education as being healthy, in reality the relationship between competing against others rather than competing with yourself on your own projects is the breeding ground for anxiety,” she added.

Dr. Apprich explains how this trend impacts upon society at large “Nowadays, if you ask a kid what he or she wants to become in the future, they simply say: ‘Rich!’ Money seems to have replaced goals or talents. It is a vicious cycle with no end in sight. A very unhealthy society driven by greed, money and success measured by income.  The financial crisis is the result of such greed.”

The antidote to this, Dr. Apprich argues, is the education of the heart – an education that nurtures self-esteem alongside academic endeavor and reflects an individualized rather than ‘one size fits all’ approach.  She reasons, “Academically strong students will not necessarily achieve the most exciting results. They often confine within the academic structure. The free thinkers are the ones who question and create.”

Dr. Apprich also suggests that defining different measures of success can have a greater positive impact upon society. She says, “True success does not mean to put others out of business or practice unethical behavior to achieve goals. True success means to come up with innovations that can cater to the needs of our world and society. Success should not only be evaluated by income but by how it can improve our own lives and the lives of others.”

She concludes, “It comes as no surprise that the practice of the education of the heart within an extremely competitive world results in fierce critical confrontation. Nevertheless, it is up to us to see it as a serious answer to the ever-increasing instances of anxiety, depression, suicides, eating disorders, divorces and unethical business practices.”

-Ends-

For further information, please contact: 
Naheed Maalik, Senior Manager, Marketing & Communication, Canadian University Dubai.
P.O.Box 117781, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. 
Phone: +971 4 7096801, +971 50 2277301 
Email: Naheed@cud.ac.ae
Website: www.cud.ac.ae

© Press Release 2016